Renting a car in a foreign country can be intimidating but in Costa Rica it really is the best way to explore the country. There are though some specific things you need to know about renting a car in Costa Rica, from the logistics of renting to actually getting around that can make everything a better experience.

Let’s start with the finding a place to rent from.

Where To Get A Car

There’s a lot of online discussion about whether a local company or large international rental service is better for Costa Rica. In truth, both can have their advantages and between any of the reputable dealers (local or international) the one with the best rates are where to start first. There are though some key areas to look at in your contract.

Liability Insurance Is Mandatory

You’ll want to check for unlimited mileage (unless you are absolutely sure on how much you’ll drive and really want to get the lowest rate possible) as well as liability insurance. You’ll do this during the booking phase – online makes things easier – and most companies will have an office in or a shuttle away from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO).

Liability insurance in mandatory in Costa Rica for car rentals. In case your credit card provides such insurance, then make sure to print out that information so you can show it upon pick up. Otherwise, you’ll be required to purchase liability insurance on the spot, which will cost around $20 per day on top of your rental fee.

What You Can Expect To Pay

Rental rates can vary but are about 10% less than what you might pay in Europe or the United States. In Costa Rica, you’ll have a lot of cars to choose from but if you’re going outside of San Jose, I recommend getting a larger vehicle. Any kind of SUV with larger tires will give you protection from the (sometimes massive) potholes you may encounter. You should also check your route and with any accommodation to see if you’ll need 4-wheel drive, as in some forested parts of the country and times of the year, it’s not recommended to go without.

Also, when you pick up your car, make sure you have a credit card with a good amount of credit free on it because most companies will take a $2,000-$5,000 dollar hold on your hard as a guarantee until you return the vehicle.

Also, make sure to take photos all around the vehicle, tires, tire wells, and roof, as well as a video as evidence of the initial condition and to mark any dents and scratches. Do the same with the interior and go over everything so it’s documented with the rental agent before you leave the lot. Check that your accommodation has parking or where they recommend you leave the vehicle when you arrive and enjoy your time in San Jose, Costa Rica and across the country.

The post What You Need To Know About Renting A Car In Costa Rica appeared first on foXnoMad.

The Ridge Tracker Card is a credit card sized Bluetooth tracker that works with Apple’s Find My network. It’s slim to be able to fit into a wallet but the limited size means the Tracker Card is missing a key feature of the AirTag. I decided to get pickpocketed on purpose to find out whether or not the AirTag 2’s increased ultra-wideband and Bluetooth range are too good to pass up.

You can watch the video above to see whether I was able to find my wallet with either tracker.

More Range, Limited Use

Both the Ridge Tracker Card and the AirTag 2 do a good job of notifying you (via a phone notification) that you’ve left them behind. This communication relies on the Bluetooth connectivity of all the devices, speaking with each other. A problem though arises when it is the tracker that’s leaving you. In those cases, both the Ridge Tracker Card and AirTag 2 must then ping other Apple devices that happen to be nearby to let you know they’re missing.

Ridge Wallet Tracker Card Compatible with Apple Find My, Slim...

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The problem is that in my testing, they tend to ping roughly every 20 minutes, therefore not making for reliable by-the-minute tracking. Sure, you’ll know something is missing and roughly where it may have gone, but not in real-time. Those slower ping times work for an item you may have lost or misplaced but not one that’s in the hands of a pickpocket making their way to another part of town.

How To Use

Apple’s AirTag 2, despite its improved ranges, has limitations that make it good for specific use cases. You might not get your money back but a thief will probably ditch the tag first thing, so you’ll maybe get the AirTag back. Or your wallet, perhaps that has some value to you. Given the limitations of both devices, it’s best to choose the one that fits best.

Here are 9 ways the Ridge Tracker Card is better than an AirTag 2.

For everything else, luggage, backpacks, pets, then an AirTag 2 has some advantages where space is not limited.

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Withdrawing cash from an ATM is becoming something we have to do less frequently and often we’re left to use the closest one. Convenience over caution because when you need cash, it’s often on short notice.

To prevent yourself from falling prey to several ATM scams that can happen if you used a compromised machine, here are some tests to always follow. You can watch the video above before reading the highlights below.

Twist The Reader

Skimming, where the magnetic stripe of a credit card is copied by a fake reader is becoming less common since most cards now use embedded chips. Still, many banks in the United States issue cards where the magnetic stripe can still be used and therefore stolen. What you want to do is, before using any ATM, twist the card reader if it’s protruding and look for any looseness or signs of tampering.

You can see in the video above how to handle various types of ATMs and card readers. Also, make sure to check the keypad as well.

Choose Wisely

Where you withdraw cash can also improve the odds of not coming across a skimmer or a shimmer (the latter used to steal credit card chip data). ATMs found in and around banks tend to have good camera coverage and security nearby. Guards, cameras, and lots of foot traffic make criminals avoid these types of ATMs in most cases because the chance of getting caught or the skimmer being discovered are higher.

The crooks will have to return to get their skimmers in order to extract the card data from them so they value not losing one they’ve placed. Many ATMs have the scams built in though, here’s how to handle ATM currency conversions.

The post Never Use An ATM Without Running These Checks First appeared first on foXnoMad.

Costa Rica’s capital city is the main entry point into a diverse number of stops across the country but few stay and see San Jose. Aside from having a bad safety reputation, it’s not the green, coastal place many tourists come to Costa Rica to see. San Jose is a city that will surprise many visitors though with safe spaces, historic foods, and a vibrant atmosphere not to be missed.

Watch the video here to see what San Jose has to offer tourists.

Use Your Guides

A good guide will help you get around to understand the best neighborhoods in San Jose. There are several where you’ll experience a high degree of security, while others should be visited mainly during the day. This goes for downtown; it’s where you’ll find the Mercado Central, Teatro Nacional, and Mercado Borbon. Only open during the day, be mindful of your belongings in the surrounding streets and don’t draw attention to yourself.

It’s in the two major markets here though that you’ll find some of the best and oldest San Jose foods from Soda Tala to must-visit ice cream shop, La Sorbetera de Lolo Mora.

There’s also Bario Escalante, a hipster and lively part of San Jose that has a reputation for food, nightlife, and a relaxed atmosphere.

Ride Share Around

Ride share apps and Uber are commonly used in San Jose and make it easy to get around without having to worry about negotiating a fare price. They also make tracking and sharing your movements with friends and relatives possible so you have have more safety as you travel the in San Jose. A good guide will set you up with an introduction into San Jose for a good first day but then you have the next to explore on your own.

Not spending at least a day in San Jose is missing a lot on Costa Rican culture that emanates to the rest of the country from here.

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AirTags have been very popular since they were first released in 2021 because they’re small, useful, and work with Apple’s Find My network. Now, 5 years later, Apple has released the AirTag 2. One of Apple’s quietest but most impressive updates to its current product lineup though and you already have an AirTag, you might be wondering if it’s worth upgrading.

The short answer is a limited, yes. Maybe.

Flying Saucers

Apple clearly decided that the original AirTag was popular and functional enough that they didn’t want to change the look or design, at least not on the outside. The AirTag 2 has the same dimensions with a UFO shape and quite easily scratched metallic cover. Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t make the AirTag in any other color than white and you’ll have to look very closely to be able to tell the AirTag 1 apart from the AirTag 2. The only difference visually is the uppercase lettering on the AirTag 2 which no longer says “designed in California, assembled in China”.

Apple AirTag (2nd Generation): Tracker for Keychain, Wallet, and...

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The AirTag 2 is .8 grams and uses the same CR 2032 battery with the same battery life of around one year.

More Ultra

AirTags have an Ultra wide-band chip in them which, in the AirTag 1, is what gives you the ability to be able to visually track them when you’re within about 10 meters or 30 feet. The AirTag 2 now has the next generation ultra wide ban- chip that Apple claims has quote, “up to 50% greater” Precision Finding range, which should be about 15 meters or 50 feet of range. You can see in this video here the results of my own testing.

The AirTag 1 had a magnet that was just enough to hold its weight but gave me no confidence it would stick if there was any movement. The AirTag 2 however has a solid lock to metallic surfaces and feels like it wouldn’t fall off, even with some firm shaking.

Time To Upgrade?

Apple hasn’t made any concrete promises about how much extra Bluetooth range the AirTag 2 has compared to the first generation, it should give you more range and in outdoor areas could be 50-60 meters versus 10-12, a huge jump. And that’s important because Bluetooth is what AirTags use to quietly talk with all of the Apple devices around them. It’s this communication that lets you see where they are through the Find My App.

The AirTag 2 is the same price as the AirTag 1, $29 for one or $99 for a 4 pack and Apple stores have pretty much run out of their remaining AirTag 1 stock, so AirTag 2 is it. For those of you already using AirTags, I wouldn’t replace all of them. The AirTag 2 is a great upgrade but not so much you have to go out and replace your current AirTags. Unless you have one really valuable or important item you want to be able to track to the best of Apple’s ability, then it might be worth upgrading just those AirTags – though in some cases a Ridge Tracker Card may be better.

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